Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-14

expectations were not realized by this first
experiment but on the contrary, the special
fruit train system proved failure fvT sew
eral reasons.
In the first place, it was found that to get
mp fifteen cars of green fruit. aggregating
$50 tons, was large undertaking, and cSfS-
sumed so much time in preparing, that
some of the fruit wonld be in poor order
before the train was ready to depart.
Second-The trains did not make as fast
time as was expected, passenger trains re-
quiriDg only four and half davs from
Sacramento to Chicago, while the special
!. fruit trains, being more cumbersome and
heavy, consumed six days, greatly to the
injury of the fruit
Third-The railroad company found itself
unable, by reason of the great demand. to
furnish the requisite number Of suitable
cars, and were Obliged to use many that
were not properly ventilated, and furnished
with the proper gearing and,
Fourth-The trains being so long, fifteen
cars each, too much fruit was placed on
certain markets at one time
These disadvantages were augmented ty
sharp rivalry and competition between
the shippers and the Fruit Union. each
striving for supremacy. The result was
disastrous TO all and worked an injury to
the entire fruit industry.
THE FUTURE PROSPECTS
Are. we are pleased to say, brighter, and
for these reasons: The railroad company
has agreed 10 give the same rate of freight
$500 per car) on special fruit train of ten
cars, and promise, if possible, to make bet
ter time than was made during the past
season. Besides this, the shippers and
growers seem determined to avoid, if posi-
Bile, the unnecessary cutting of prices that
prevailed last year, the union referred to
above having changed its bylaws so as TO
cooperate with the shippers, and il is
thought that both can thus work in har-
mony, prevent gluts in the Eastern mar
kets, and consequently slauehtering Of
prices to the injury of all, thereby settling
forever the question of shipment of green
fruits East, to the end that fruit growing in
California will be more profitable and
awaken a new era in the business of fruit
raising, so that it will in the near future be
the leading agricultural industry OF this
State.
METEOROLOGICAL STATISTICS.
The portion of our report that is devoted
to the compilation of statistics upon the
weather has assisted greatly in increasing
the dem nd for the reports issued by this
Society. a complete review of the rainfall
and the temperature is published herein
each year. The importance of having
these tables for reference in comparing the
weather statistics with former seasons is
obvious.
Many of the States in the Union have
State Weather Service in conjunction with
the United States Signal Service WHICH is
maintained at a small outlay The OBJ
seryations are taken at different points by
responsible parties who take enough inter
est in natural science, meteorology, eli
matology, etc. TO attend to taking them
without cost. They are furnished with
franked envelopes by the Chief Signal Off
Ger, so that about the only cost necessary
are the instruments and labor performed
by the Central Office, where weekly re-
ports are tabulated and furnished the daily
press.
These reports are issued ip the form of
bulletins, giving the weather changes and
such other information of interest to the
agrieulturists of the State
Should this system be connected with
the State Agricultural Society, there could
also be issued weekly report of the crop
outlook for each vicinity at which the OBJ
servation is taken.
The people of this State take great inter-
est in its climatic condition, and should be
| furnished with proper data at stated pc
| RODS, from responsible and official soui ce
| This could be accomplished at little ex-
| pense to the State, and we would ask q
| careful consideration of this subject by
| your Excellency, to the end that it may
receive such reconsideration as may be of
benefit to the State in your biennial mes
sage to the legislature
| An appropriation, say of about IS, 900
| per annum, would be sufficient to purchase
the necessary instruments and pay the
salary of the officer employed TO take
4 ~ 6 ~
| This would put the State service on an ex-
cellen, footing, aud with the aid of the re-
| ports from the railroad stations through
out the State, there could be issued
| weekly and monthly report very much
| larger than any other State has yet made
| The great increase in the meteorological
data of the State Agricultural Society re-
ports since 1881, which have been kindly
| furnished us annually, free of expense, by
Sergeant James A. Barwick, United States
Signal Service Officer at Sacramento, is tax
| ing the Sergeant's time to such an extent
| that if continued, as in the past, he will
not be able to attend to it without neglect
to his official duties, unless furnished
assistance by the State
The reports Mr.. Barwicl. hes furnished
| the Society with since his sojourn in Sacra-
| mento (1S81) have met with great favor,
not only by the residents of this State, but
, residents as well.
Applications for the report of 1885 were
received from England. France, Germany,
Australia and other parts of the world,
which tends to show thatthe interest evinced
| by all to obtain reliable information as to
the climate of our State is of some lnagni-
tude.
| OTHER MATTERS.
We have received from the Department
| of Agriculture at Washington, D. c.,
| through the courtesy of Senator Stanford,
| the following list of Seeds which are dis
| tributed throughout the State Six thou
sand four hundred papers vegetable seed.
| 500 papers flower garden seed, 200 papers
| tobacco seed, % quarts of grass seed, 25
papers sugar-beet seed.
| For the purpose of farther enhancing the
| value of premium stock the Board adopted
a rule for our last exhibition. directing the
| Secretary to issue neat certificate of award
| toall exhibitors whose animals had received
a premium. This feature has met the ap-
| proval of all breeders, and many have &C
| knowledged the receipt of them in words of
| praise, as the certificate is of great value to
| the owner of such stock in establishing,
without further trouble, the identity of the
! prize winner.
For many years past the Board Of Diree-
tors of this Society have endeavored to ar
holding the Mechanics Institute Exhibi-
| ton and the State Fair. whereby they
would not conflict with each other. Both
! institutions are recognized by exhibitors as
| important factors in the development OF the
| industries of the State.
We desire to do all possible to accommo-
| date this class of our citizens. With this end
| in view, we were instrumental in bringing
about a plan of conference. which we be-
| lieye will accomplish the desired result
Early in the year we were asked by the
Boards of Trade of San Francisco and Sac
ramento to appoint committee to act in
conjunction with like committee from the
Mechanics Institute and Boards of Trade
above named. We readily complied, and
the joint committee met in San Francisco
March 10, 1856, and adopted the following
resolution
Resolred, That ii is the sense of the joint COM
mittec assembled for the consideration OF the
time of holding the Mechanics and State Fairs,
that the time OF opening be fixed by each at u
date that viii not conflict with each other, and
we recommend TO the Directors of both essocia-
tions who may have that duty TO perform that
the Mechanics' Institute Fair be opened on the
first Tuesday in August and close on the fifth
Saturday following, and that the State Fair wiz
open one week from the following Monday.
Tie committee from this Board reported
that it was not possible for them TO come
to any arranoenlent for 1856 as the Me-